J. C. Darden Heads Cambrian Systems

Cambrian Systems, a Westlake Village maker of test equipment for disk-drive manufacturers, announced that its president, William Stein, has resigned to return to consulting work. Simon, 50, who also gave up his seat on the board, had been president for two years.

The company said he is being replaced by J. C. Darden, 48, a director of ESS Technologies, a Portland, Ore.-based company and Cambrian’s largest shareholder. Cambrian added that ESS has agreed to provide more financial support for the company.

The company also disclosed that it laid off 19 employees because of the computer industry downturn, reducing its employment to 45 people. Cambrian lost $1.1 million in the nine months ended April 30, on revenue of $2.9 million.